30/09/2012
Bay of Plenty made a mockery of the climatic conditions, running out with a 31-19 win over Northland in their ITM Cup match in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
The home side led only 10-7 at halftime after playing with a stiff breeze at their backs, then turned into the wind and sun and scored three tries in a slick second spell.
It eased their Premiership relegation fears, taking them clear of Waikato and Hawke’s Bay on the points table, while hurting Northland hopes of a Championship semifinal.
“By no means was it pretty but we’ll take the win,” Steamers captain Tanerau Latimer said, adding that his forwards finally got their act together in the second half by taking a more direct approach.
“That was our game plan for the whole match but we just couldn’t string two phases together. We’re not happy with the standards we set this year but we’ve got two games left to try and stay up in the Premier division.”
The home side started as if their season depended on it, with Chris Noakes knocking over a penalty and then making a clever dab, before former Northland lock Dan Godwin crashed over against his former team.
Noakes’ conversion made in 10-0 after as many minutes but the pivot then missed two tough penalty chances from 55m and on the touchline respectively.
Using the breeze, they spent the first 30mins camped in the Northland 22 but the visitors kept nabbing turnovers at crucial times.
Northland first sniff came from a slick break from left wing Mateo Malupo, who chipped ahead for blindside Jack Ram but Steamers second-five Phil Burleigh cleaned up with an intercept and clearing kick.
But four minutes before the break, they attacked from deep in their own quarter, again through Malupo who again kicked. This time, replacement Northland fullback Matt Wright was able to charge down Jack Wilson’s clearing kick and win the chase to the ball.
Ash Moeke’s sideline conversion gave Northland a huge fillip, considering the paucity of their possession, and they were able to repel once last Bay of Plenty attack before the break.
Noakes missed another shot after the break, while Moeke missed a longe-range bomb, which would’ve tied the scores.
Northland’s use of high attacking kicks into the sun almost paid dividends twice, denied by cruel bounces, but Bay of Plenty were the next to score after changing to a more direct attacking route.
A series of penalties drew the Steamers close to the Northland line and Goodwin was again driven over. Noakes regained his kicking form, albeit with a conversion in off the posts to make it 17-7.
It got worse for Northland with 18mins to go, when reserve hooker David Hall was sinbinned after repeated warnings from referee Richard Kelly, 5m out from the own line.
The Steamers chose to scrum it and No.8 Carl Axtens burst off the back to score next to the posts. Noakes added the extras for a 24-7 lead.
A forward got the next one too but it had all the hallmarks of a brilliant backline try. Following a break by replacement midfielder Mafi Kefu, prop Greg Pleasants-Tate got the ball 40m out and embarked on a magnificent, untouched sprint in under the posts.
Rene Ranger kept Northland in with a chance, slipping a pass to centre Faatoina Autagavaia, who galloped in with 10mins left, then again with a ball to Wright with 2mins to go.
The visitors nearly snatched a bonus point after the siren but flanker Dan Pryor’s last pass after a 40m break was intercepted and bundled out.
Scorers:
Bay of Plenty 31 (Dan Goodwin 2, Carl Axtens, Greg Pleasants-Tate tries; Chris Noakes pen, 4con)
Northland 19 (Matt Wright 2, Faatoina Autagavaia tries; Ash Moeke 2con)
HT: 10-7.
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